President Donald Trump of the United States has halted HIV/AIDS funding to Nigeria, which has led to a cascade of events. The HIV funding program helped ensure over 20.6 million people living with HIV/AIDs have access to the necessary medications and test kits. Now that the Trump administration has paused funding, there is a gap that Nigeria’s health sector has to fill to meet its people’s needs.
Temitope Ilori, the director-general of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), says the federal government plans to invest more in domestic production of HIV commodities. Ilori stated in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara, that Kwara’s prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and pediatrics ART acceleration committee would operate in full swing.
She also mentioned that the federal government plans to eliminate AIDS as a public health treatment by 2030. The director-general mentioned the plans already in motion such as enlisting all individuals into NHI and mobilizing resources.
“UNAIDS 2023 reports indicate that approximately 140,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring annually,” she stated.
“Despite progress, PMTCT and pediatric HIV coverage remain below 33%, far from the 95% target.
“To address this, the global alliance action plan to end AIDS in children was developed in 2021 with full financial support, yet coverage remains suboptimal.”
Ilori also mentioned that while Kwara state’s HIV prevalence is less than the national average, disparities persist.
She went on to say that “women are disproportionately affected (1.3%) compared to men (0.4%), and some local governments require targeted interventions to maintain and further reduce prevalence rates.”
“Achieving an AIDS-free generation is within reach, and no child should be born HIV-positive in Kwara state.”
“I urge all partners to support us in developing a comprehensive line list of children of HIV-positive clients, which is crucial to accelerating pediatric ART nationwide.”
But while the director-general addressed Kwara, she mentioned that these efforts are nationwide. She stated that the minister of state for health has set up a national acceleration committee. The focus is at the state level. By countering mother-to-child transmission and enhancing real-time program monitoring in each state, better results would be within reach.
“Over the past few days, I have received numerous calls regarding the implications of the 90-day foreign aid suspension on our HIV program,” she mentioned.
“While we are relieved that HIV services remain exempt, this situation underscores the need for government-led sustainability efforts.” Her message shows she understands the severity of the suspension and the now-pressing relevance of the government in fighting the virus.
President Trump recently ordered a funding pause for HIV treatment in developing countries like Nigeria. Hence, suspension of the disbursement of funds from the president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR).
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